Tag: Cross-platform multiplayer »

Small World 2, based on the fantastically fun Small World board game from Days Of Wonder, Inc., will be releasing a new update that brings players the thrill of an Online Arena. Have an iPad and want to challenge your friend on their Android? No worries! Small World 2 will support cross-platform multiplayer. The Online Arena connects players in real time and manages their experience with adjustable turn clocks to lengthen or shorten a game to your preferred duration, and AI subs for if/when a player rage-quits. This protects players from the behavior of sore-losers and bad player habits.

Small World 2 is available in the App Store for $9.99.

- Ranking, private games, karma filtering, starting player selection when creating a game
- Persistent in-game chat
- Chat at the final score screen, with possibility to add the other players as Buddies right away
- An improved invitation system for "games with friends"
- A detailed statistics screen at the end of each game to analyze how each player performed with the various race/power combinations

Yesterday we mentioned that Space Hulk had received an update that added a new cross-platform co-op mode. Well we've also just figured out (thanks to the questions posed by 148Apps commenter Delnit) that it also supports cross-platform game saves. This means that you can carry over your campaign and multiplayer progress from your Mac/PC to your iPad and vice-versa, ensuring that you'll always be ready to sacrifice a squad of genetically engineered supersoldiers in the name of The Emperor.

Great Big War Game is a turn-based strategy sequel a title that loses some of the irony of Great Little War Game's title but does try to be bigger and better, as sequels are wont to do. Players command a blue army that has just brought along a new female commander recruit, whose low-cut uniform seems like it should be against military regulations, but not on the world of Great Big War Game. It’s all turn-based, where players can move and shoot with all their units in some turn. Battles take place with both troops and vehicles, on land, sea, and air, with plenty of units that may dominate one terrain, but have their weakness. They aren’t kidding when they talk about anti-air guns! Base assaults can be a dangerous proposition, thanks to the ability to create units and use them in the same turn, adding to the careful strategy that must be used.

Some missions make it difficult to tell what’s going on; having a better explanation of missions at the beginning would help. Also, having a “switch unit” button would help out for finding units who haven’t done an action yet. Some intelligence as to whether a unit can even do anything would help.

While the game is a bit more complex than, say, Outwitters or Hero Academy, it’s still set up to be easy enough to play, especially thanks to the ability to see estimated damage and to undo moves. It also helps with the occasional inaccuracies or mistakes in movement. The tone of the game is interesting: it’s comical, yet the world is more accepting of the fact that war is violent at its heart. It’s like a darker Advance Wars. Yes, even darker than Days of Ruin, which took place in a post-apocalyptic world.

There’s also a personal favorite feature of mine here: cross-platform multiplayer. While users have to create a specific GBWG account, all games can be played against any other user. There’s a ranking system for taking on random players, with up to 4 players in some game. However, Facebook or Twitter integration would help with finding friends to play with.

While I would love to see the interface revamped, there’s plenty of strategic fun to be had. There’s 50 single player missions with plenty of different scenarios to enjoy and master. The online multiplayer is worth coming back to as well, though compared to some iOS-only turn-based games it feels a bit unrefined. Still, this is an impressive package for strategy fans.